For the Love of Reading........What's on Your Bookshelf

Welcome to my What's On Your BookShelf post. The WOYB link party is hosted by Deb, Jo and Sue....all gals I follow on a few other link parties. I love their blogs. Go check them out. #whatsonyourbookshelfchallenge

I missed posting in February. I still think I might be off in how I post, but it probably doesn't matter....I find myself thinking "am I posting what I'm reading now in March, or what I read in February, or both". I'm going to go with a bit of both. What I read the previous month and what I'm working on this month. I still don't have a solid method for rating my books. I need to look at how others do their and decide what fits me best. I hate being harsh with books..lol. What I like someone else may hate, and what I didn't like at all, someone else might love. 

Since I missed February, I'll share what I read in January and February. I finished 5 books in January and 7 in February. March is off to a bit of a slow start. 

January's reads: I already shared three that I finished, but I finished two others I was reading.

Bookish People by Susan Coll ⭐⭐

This one just didn't do it for me. I love books about books, bookstores, book clubs, etc, but, I don't know, for whatever reason this one seemed a little all over the place. I need to get in a habit of writing reviews when I finish books, because now I don't entirely remember why I only gave it 2 stars. 

Finding Freedom: A Cooks Story by Erin French ⭐⭐⭐

This was an audio version. It was fairly long, and I wasn't a fan of all the F-bombs, though I realize it's the sharing of her life and that is part of it, but it's my least favorite word...haha. Other than that it was fascinating to hear where she came from and what all she accomplished. WOW. I would however recommend it. After listening to it I went back and watched several episodes of her show The Lost Kitchen on Magnolia Network. 

 
February Reads:  I read 7 books...wow! A few were cozy mysteries so not as long, and two were audio books. 

On the Chopping Block:   by Jenny Kales  ⭐⭐⭐⭐

This book was book #1 in A Callie's Kitchen Mystery. It was a fun read. I love cozy mysteries that center around food, because, well, I love food, but there's often recipes that go with them, and I think it would be fun to cook my way through cozy mystery books. This is centered around a contest and the winner happens to be the new boyfriend of "Callie" who is also a restaurant owner...he is murdered and she is obviously a "suspect", as are others. 

Untamed by Glennon Doyle ⭐⭐⭐

I gave this one three stars because while I thought there were good takeaways, there was also a lot that I had a hard time with...I listened to this on audio and that could be why. A lot of F-Bombs, which I don't care for. It was one of my 12/12 challenge books so I did finish it. 

Hammers and Homicide by Paula Charles ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

This was a fun read by a new author who is from my local area. I saw it advertised by a local bookstore who was hosting an author night and she was the guest. I reserved my spot and I'm now a fan of this gal. This was a fun read and I found myself laughing often. She bases locations and other things off where she grew up and her own family, throwing in phrases that her mom or grandma would often say. Sometimes cozies can be super cheesy (which is fine), but wasn't that. I also love that it was woman in her 60's who was the star...senior sleuths are hilarious if you ask me! 

The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency by ALexander McCall Smith ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

This also was for my 12/12 challenge and another one I really enjoyed. I also learned that my aunt and grandma read all the books in the series (which I'm now going to read). The story follows Precious Ramotswe and how instead of raising cattle like her father, she decides to start a private investigator business. The book follows her life and the people she helps. It's sad, it's funny, it's insightful. I believe there are 24 books in the series. Apparently there was an HBO series so I might need to look into it. 

About Grace By Anthony Doerr ⭐⭐⭐⭐

I think I expected more from this book because he also wrote All the Light We CAnnot See. It fell short for me. It was good, and I know some will like it, it just was a bit flat and honestly, very sad. The storyline about a man who "dreams/sees" things that end up happening was interesting and the basis of the story is he dreams his daughter will die and it might be his fault so he runs away...for over 25 years. After the initial plot unfolds, it just kind of flounders...at least for me. There were some good parts, but enough lacking that I gave it a 4 star...and that might be gracious.

Walking with Sam by Andrew McCarthy ⭐⭐⭐⭐

This one I listened to on audio book. It shares the story of the actor Andrew McCarthy traveling the Camino de Santiago with his son Sam. Again...F-bombs..haha, BUT I really enjoyed it. There's something about reading/listening to books by well known people that helps put their lives in perspective! His son also is part of the reading. I enjoyed it too because I know an older couple who have done these Camino's twice and it fascinates me.

Murder in the Rose Garden by Tabitha Tate ⭐

Ooof this one was a tough read....it had potential, BUT the way the sentences are structured and the way the people "talk" is just way too proper and choppy. I found myself saying "I would not talk this way in real life"...I think I deleted it off my kindle app or I'd give examples. Anyways..the idea was good, but it just had mistakes and like I said the wording was bleh.

What I'm currently reading: 

 The Most Beautiful Thing I've seen by Lisa Gungor

Yep...still working on this one. 

Wake up With Purpose! What I've learned in My First Hundred Years  by Jean Dolores Schmidt

I'm listening to this one on audio and just started. Sister Jean is the Loyola University in Chicagos chaplain and is very well known. Her book is the story of her life and how she chooses to wake up with purpose each day. She shares that while many things have changed, the important things remain the same. This was one I'd been waiting to read so nabbed it when it became available. 

Do the New You: 6 Mindsets to Become Who You Were Created to Be by Steven Furtick

This is part of a 7 week e-group I'm taking part in with a HS classmate and some other women. I'm really liking a lot of thoughts in this book. This will be one I read throughout the next few months. 

Everything Sad is Untrue b Daniel Nayeri. 

This is one of the 12/12 challenge reads and I'll admit I'm struggling with it. I may return it and come back to it another time. It's about a boy who is a refugee in Oklahoma. It shares the story of his (the authors life) as he tries to tell his story but is shamed, ridiculed and struggles to find his footing. It isn't coming together like any other book I've read, though it gets such high reviews...so I will either push through or come back to it. 

We are getting ready to pick our next book club book. In fact I need to choose it today. That wraps up this month. 

With Joy Unquenchable,

Kirstin